Genoa problems

[UPSGUY]

I've been having issues with the genoa on my boat. It is a 150 with a window in it. It seems to be very low to the deck sweeping across and hanging up on anything and everything with each tack.
The sail doesn't seem to hang right either, not filling properly unless I leave the sail looser than I'd like.
Being a novice to the C22 and at best a intermediate sailor I'm at a loss. It looks as if raising the sail another 6-8 inches up the stay would help. Any ideas?
I will try to add pictures a little later to illustrate what I mean.

 

[paphman]

UPSGUY

Are you sure that the sail is for a Catalina 22? A 150% will go to the masthead. If it looks like you need to raise it some more, and it is at the mast head already, the sail does not fit your boat. As far as the sail hanging up on things, that is one of the problems with a 150. We sold ours and got a 130. We have a 150 drifter, but that is a differant type of sail. Maybe you can measure the luff, and this may help in finding the answer. I think the total stay length is around 25' 4" That should be in the ball park.

Dale

 

[Bilbo]

A few questions,
1) When you say that the sail doesn't fill properly, what do you mean?

2) How far back on the tracks are your Jib cars?

3) What is the size of this sail?

A 150-155 Genoa for a C22 should be about these dimensions:

• Luff: 26.25'
• Leech: 24.5'
• Foot: 13'
• LP: 12' (Luff Perpendicular.) I believe that this is how the sail is actually measured for naming. ......As in 150% of 8'
• Catalina 22 I=25.8 J=8.0 P=21.0 E= 9.7
  

But also.....
The following formula will give you approximately area for: 155% Genoa = (( J x I ) / 2) x 1.65

• J-8.0 x I-25.8=206.4
• 206.4 / 2=103.2
• 103.2x1.65=170.28
• Area: 170.28 sq ft.

 

[UPSGUY]

It appears that the PO had gotten a sail from a smaller boat.
With the sail up I'm about 3' from the top of the stay.
I say that the sail doesn't fill properly in that it rolls over unless loaded with a lot of wind.
As for the Genoa cars I've been moving them forward and back looking for the "sweet spot" where they seem to work best.
More than that I do not know. My real world experience is limited to blue jays, lazers sunfish and my puffer beyond that I've crewed on my dads boats but never set one up.

 

[UPSGUY]

Maybe this pic will help?

 

[cwkemp]

UPSGUY
Hard to tell, but the pic seems to indicate a couple of things. The scallops between the hanks and the wrinkles make it seem like you could tension the luff a little more. The direction of the wrinkles makes it seem to me like the leech is over tight (jib car too far forward). If you had a photo of the entire sail it would be easier to diagnose. I'm no expert, but you might get some more feedback if you posted this on the "Sail Trim With Don Guillette" forum on this site.

 

[UPSGUY]

Thank you, I'll do that.

 

[Bilbo]

I'd also suggest tightening the halyard but it's not a really big issue.

If the winds are light, you can raise the jib higher by attaching a sturdy extension line from the tack to the bow stem fitting.
This would raise the sail to collect more wind at a point where the foresail is catching and then directing the wind behind the main.

Also, I'd suggest using telltales. You can buy them but also you can make some temp ones with 1/4" Christmas wrapping ribbon, yarn or 1/4" cassette recording tape and some decent tape to fasten it to the right places on the sail. Here is a web site that explains telltales. http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/95_11_Tellingtales/Tellingtales.html

The Jib cars will determine the angle that the jib sheet pulls on the sail and so affect the shape of the sail -What's called twist and draft depth.
If the jib car is further back, the draft will be less deep and the sail twist on up will tend to be more. -good for higher winds when you don't want to heel as much.
With the jib car forward, the sail will be more straight on up the leech and the draft will be deeper because the jib car causes the sheet to pull more down on the clew.

Remember that a good deal of what the jib does is to catch the wind on the windward side and deflects the wind behind the main to produce the lift of the main. The wind also goes behind the jib to cause more lift.

If the jib sheet is too tight, it will close the 'slot' -the distance between the lee side of the mainsail and the jib luff.

If the jib sheet is too loose, it will cause the jib to luff (Flap back and forth) right behind the forestay at first. This luffing can also happen if you are pinching - driving too high into the wind.